With the election just a couple days away, former Virginia governor and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner made an appearance at the University Sunday as part of a final push to gain support for the Democratic Party.
University Democrats hosted the event on the South Lawn to recruit volunteers to canvass, make calls and help out on Election Day. University Democrats President Sarah Buckley said her organization has been canvassing and knocking on doors every day for the last few weeks.
“The polling numbers are looking good, but that only pays off if we get the same numbers at the voting booths, so it’s not over yet,” she said.
The organization was grateful to have Warner’s support for its efforts to recruit volunteers for the run-up to the election, Buckley said.
Warner, calling himself a “radical centrist,” outlined the goals he plans to accomplish if elected senator. He spoke on various issues ranging from the economy to the energy crisis to building up the nation’s infrastructure. He proposed what he called a “creative solution” for saving the automobile industry and the environment.
“The next industry that’s probably going to ask us for relief is the auto industry,” Warner said. “Why don’t we ask every level of government — federal, state, local — to put a three-year purchase order [on cars] ... on the condition that they produce vehicles that produce 100 miles per gallon and they’re made with American technology and are produced by American workers?”
College Republicans Chairman Savanna Rutherford, who did not attend the event, said she was not sure if Warner’s plan for the automobile industry sounded like a viable solution.
“I think certainly the auto industry is in trouble, but I think it’s kind of a slippery slope when the government starts bailing out all of these companies and agencies,” she said. “I think throwing money at the problem is not always the best or most realistic solution.
Warner also addressed the financial crisis on Wall Street, expressing He expressed his view that the government should not invest in failing banks as a long-term solution, but noted that he does see this approach as a short-term need.
“I know we’re going to be investing in these banks,” Warner explained, “I do want to make sure that if we are investing in the short term, that we get the same benefits that Warren Buffett got when he invested in Goldman Sachs.”
Warner expressed his support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and U.S. congressional candidate Tom Perriello, whose spokeswoman, Jessica Barba, also appeared at the event and encouraged voters to vote Democrat straight down the ticket.
“If we make sure that everyone who votes for president votes down the ticket for Perriello,” she said, “we will walk away with one of the biggest upsets in the country” against incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode.
The main focus of the event, though, was turning Virginia Blue. David Slutzky, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors member, said the last days before the election are extremely important for voter turnout.
“For the first time since 1964, Virginia might vote Democratic,” Slutzky said. “If it does, our 13 electoral votes might well be the difference between victory and disaster.”
Rutherford, however, said she still remains optimistic that Virginia will continue to be a Red state after Tuesday.
“I know the poll numbers indicate we should be a little less optimistic, but it isn’t over until it’s over,” she said. “Things in Virginia are looking different than they have in the past, so it’s motivating College Republicans to get involved.”
Rutherford added that like the University Democrats, the College Republicans are continuing to knock on doors and make phone calls to urge people to vote.
Originally, Warner’s appearance was scheduled to take place on the Lawn near the Rotunda; however, because of logistical issues, it was moved to the South Lawn.
Recent College graduate Maggie Thornton, a former Cavalier Daily News editor who has been working in the Obama office on the Corner for the past week, said the location change took place because Lawn Head Resident Advisor Christian West said too many people were present and noted that the Lawn is a private residential community.
Thornton noted that the Washington Literary Society and Debating Union and the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society were holding an event on the Lawn that was allowed to continue, despite the large crowd and loud noise. Thornton suggested the political nature of the event may have been the reason it was banned from the north part of the Lawn, but “that was not the reason given.”
West said the event was moved because the Undergraduate Record states that no stable constructions, such as the stage upon which Warner stood, are to be placed in the upper area of the Lawn, except for University-sponsored events such as graduation and Convocation.
He also noted that the political nature of the event also called for consideration.
“By holding it in the middle of the Lawn, the University could have been perceived to be endorsing Warner’s campaign,” he said. “And that is something the [Office of Public Affairs] is very sensitive to.”
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